Random Posts

It seems I haven't taken very many grandbaby pictures lately. With all of the runny noses and sore throats going around, the opportunity for pics just didn't seem right. I did, however, mark the occasion of Sydney starting to sit on her own without support. If she's doing this already at 5.5 months, I wonder what that says for when she'll start walking?

Here's a Happy Birthday picture of Marcus. Is it 30 when people stop putting all of the candles on your cake?? (That cake was yummy, btw.)

I've been indecisive as to what project I should start next. What do you think; should it be the beanbag chair cover that I've been procrastinating since before Christmas? (It's the minky fuzz that I know is going to fly everywhere as soon as I lay it out to cut. It was already getting all over just getting it out for the picture!)

OR, should I make the new valances for the Playroom/Used-to-be-Guestroom?

OR, lastly, (for now) should I make Valentine hairbows and fabric flowers? The fabric flowers I have been very anxious to start practicing, but I have a feeling that I won't know where or when to stop!   

Decisions, decisions....

Patiently Waiting

Yes! Amelia finally let Jen put her hair in a ponytail and leave it for more than a few minutes!

 Jen and Steve left at 4 for an evening out on Friday and Amelia's ponytail stayed in over 2 hours and she was briefly disappointed at bath time when I told her it had come out. I'm hoping this is a sign that she soon will be willing to wear hair bows. I only have 2 pictures of her with bows in her hair, one on her birthday when I sneaked it into her hair and quickly took the picture before she pulled it out,

 and the other at her adoption ceremony where the picture was snapped just as she was reaching for it.   

Now,  this is a girlie girl,  who notices and wants to wear all kinds of jewelry and shoes (!). So I'm remaining hopeful that I'll soon be making her some bows that she will wear.

A Wedding

We attended my niece's wedding on Saturday. It was a fun celebration with family and friends. The Guild House was a beautiful setting and perfect for her peacock feather decor.  (Ok, so I'd probably not make it as a reviewer of weddings and special occasions! But it was a beautiful wedding!)

Weddings are always a mix of emotions. Each married attendee I'm sure is reminded of their own wedding and the joy they felt that day. Perhaps they may have pulled away from that joy, and wonder how it happened, or maybe (hopefully) their joy has multiplied.  For me, it takes me back an unimaginable 38 (!) years ago.  I think of how naive we were, how little we knew about how to nurture a marriage, and how we didn't know that we should be on our knees before our LORD. I didn't have Jesus as a moment-to-moment part of my life when I got married. Then, I didn't know the difference; now, I do. Although I certainly wouldn't have chosen to have the first 11 years of my marriage without Jesus, I consider it a blessing that I can absolutely look back and see the difference He makes in my life. He has taught me to be more patient and accepting and that there is purpose in every struggle. Sometimes the purpose is to change my behavior, sometimes it's obedience, or it even might be that He is using me to reach someone dear to me. But sometimes I don't have a clue as to the purpose and that's ok, I just need to be faithful and wait and continue praying because God has a plan and He always wants us to come closer to Him.

So, what would be my advice to newlyweds (or to any of us!) ??    Seek the LORD. Let that permeate every part of your life. It will help you curb your tongue, to be an encourager, to choose your battles, to be more patient, to repair relationships, and to make wise choices. Seek Him by prayer, by fellowship with other believers, and by reading His Word. (The bible has every bit of advice we will ever need.)

Do I always follow my own advice....well, no, I'm still a work-in-progress also! So I think I'll go spend a little time in prayer....

Oh, To Be 2

Two year olds are so entertaining, and their moods can swing sharply in a matter of minutes. Lately when I attempt to get a picture of Cade, I end up with pictures like this on the first try.

But if I keep the camera ready I can capture a whole other side of him!

(Judging how this Play Doh mask made him smile, I think I will be making masks soon!)

Racetrack/Leggings

Well, no, the racetrack and the leggings don't go together, I'm just posting them together.
The racetrack with the Cars fabric was a gift for Little Man Cade for Christmas. I made it with a backing (sailcloth?) that has a little bit of stiffness and sheen and yet still rolls up easily. I also added loops along the top so it could be hung on the wall. It measures about 4' x 2'.

 The leggings were made for Sydney from women's socks. I had seen this project on another blog a while back and was anxious to try it. My first try ended up having to be worn upside down so the stretchier part could go around the cute little thighs.

On the second try I used wm's knee highs which made them longer and easier to slouch on her whole leg and less likely to slip down. They are made by simply using the rotary cutter to cut out the heel and toe sections and using the straight part of the foot piece to fold over and create a new cuff. I found the socks at Target for only $1.00 and $1.40 a pair! So easy! I'm anxious to make more!

Simple Satisfaction

I hate ants! Well, actually I've always been facinated with watching them and impressed by their capabilities, but in my house, I HATE ANTS!!! Our current struggle with the little varmits began the day before Thanksgiving when we awoke to seeing a usually white sink in the kitchen blackened by the numbers of them. They were all over the black granite counters also, but you just couldn't see them as well. After about 2 hours of scooping, swiping, spraying, smooshing, and hunting for the entry points, we sat back and noted that we were grateful that we weren't having 30 people over for dinner the next day like we did last year, and thought surely we would have our problem solved by Christmas day dinner when 30 people would then be arriving. Well, our dilligence (along with God's blessing) payed off and we made it through Christmas without the unscheduled "guests" interrupting our gathering. But I think our respite was only for a few days, or at least it feels like that. Every time we think we have them licked, they seem to find a new entry point. I found myself saying that I hoped it would keep raining so we would get a rest from the ants!
This past weekend, Mike decided to tackle one last area that hadn't been sprayed on the south side of the house. It entailed disassembling a storage shed that is wedged in between the fence and the house and unloading everything in it. It turned out to be worth the effort when he discovered a huge nest! Success! Our problems are over!!

(Or so we thought...) My glibness lasted til about 10 that night when my computer/sewing room was diluged by hundreds of the hateful critters. They were just everywhere--all over my desk, in my file cabinet, on the walls, and even in the carpet which they normally avoid. What to do?? I immediately sprayed the easily reached areas, and then came up with my "simple satisfaction" idea:  Ant Paper. You know, like fly paper. I took wide strips of cellophane packaging tape and used it to trap them by the dozens. Quick, effective, efficient and easy to dispose of.

Creepy, huh

  The problem is not yet gone, but I'm hoping the diluge was from all of the critters that were away from the nest when it was sprayed and the numbers will continue to dwindle. So, for now, I'll continue with my strips of "ant papers" placed stratigically around the room and be glad I'm no longer having to keep washing my fingers after smooshing. (Btw,I'm also extremely grateful they are the black and not the red ants!)

5 Months!

Sidney was 5 months old yesterday! Big Brother, Cade, wanted to take some pictures of her so here is some of his handiwork (the first 5 are pics he took).

Not a bad effort for a 2 1/2 year old! We'll work on keeping his fingers away from the lens, and yes, there were more shots with Damma's head cut off even more. But after all, the task was to take pictures of Sydney!

Sydney is so anxious to be up and moving around. I held her out in front of me while we chased after Cade and then he would turn around and rush up to her. They both giggled and giggled! I think it was Damma who tired first!

Student of the Month

Thank You, Lord, for special moments! Today we attended an Awards Assembly at Isa's school. Our first for a grandchild, and her first to be honored as Student of the Month. It was a surprise to Isa. She didn't have a clue that she had been selected, but it made me smile when I saw how fast she jumped up and headed to the stage when her name was announced by the principal. What a cutie! The first of probably many times we will come to see awards she has earned. I'll also have to admit that I thought longingly of the many assemblies for Jill and Jen that I had to miss because I was teaching school.
Jill and I were also smiling at the differences between the 2 girls and 3 boys selected for the 5 Kdgns as they stood on stage--the girls had their certificates held in front of them and turned to face the audience; the boys were doing well to just stand still with their certificates at least in front of them but not held for the audience to see. Adorable.

Taken backstage after the awards were received

Family Visit

My niece, Megan, and her 2 1/2 year old son, Gabriel, came to visit us last week. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment turn-around visits that was much too quick-- Especially since they were coming from Reno and it ended up taking 11 hours to get here because of the snow. That's a long time to travel with a 2 year old! But not knowing when she might have another chance to visit "Grandma Lue", they came anyway.
This was the first time the cousins got to play together, since Cade and Gabriel were only 2 mos the last time we saw them. (Cade is 15 days older than Gabriel.)
One of the things I learned was that it would have been better to introduce them like this:

 Rather than this:

Their painting session was calm and they shared willingly. But when they met it was "game-on" for who could get the balls first and "who is this new guy in my territory?"

I'm glad it didn't take long for them to warm up to each other, and it's sad that they live so far away (Idaho). It was great having them here and I hope the next visit will be soon!